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<!-- MAIN //--> <div id="main"> <div id="exploreSite"> <p><a href="#show-site" id="toggle-site" class="action-exploreSite">explore site</a></p> </div> <p id="breadcrumb"> <a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/'>Home</a> <span>»</span> <a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Explore-your-stage/'>your stage</a> <span>»</span> <a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Explore-your-stage/toddler-advice/'>Toddler</a> <span>»</span> <a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Explore-your-stage/Articlestory-category/?categoryId=72'>Wellbeing</a> <span>»</span></p> <h1 id="printtitle">The 4am Start To The Day</h1> <div id="content"> <div class="box w075"> <div class="article-left fL" style="width: 444px;"> <h2 class="headline"> Does anyone have any advice or ideas....My 3 year old son and 2 year old daughter think that anywhere between 4 and 5am is a great time to start the day!!!! We have tried putting them to bed later in the evening to see if that will help with sleeping in a bit in the morning, but all I end up with is 2 cranky toddlers that still wake at 4am!!! Any idea's??? </h2> <div> <div class="image"> </div> </div> <div class="cB"></div> <p>Just wondering if anyone else has gone through these early starts to the day?? 4am is just a bit too early!! Our two toddlers, a 3 year old and a 2 year old, both have their own bedrooms and as soon as one hears the other they are both up. <br />We have tried putting them both to bed later in the evening hoping they may sleep in in the morning but all I end up with is two cranky toddlers for the day. They go to bed at 7pm with no fuss in the evening but for the last 6 or 7 months have been waking at 4am. We have central heating in the house so the rooms are all a consistant temperature as some friends have thought they may wake then because they are cold. We have tried cotton p.j's so if they are too hot and flannel so if they are cold but it doesn't seem to make any difference. <br />When they wake at this time either myself or my husband get up and tell them it is far too early and they need to stay in bed for a while longer and we put them back into their beds. They may last 20 or 30 minutes then they are back up again. We do perservere with putting them back in each time until about 6am then we have had enough and end up just getting up! If they woke at 6am that would be fine, 4am is just too early!! <br />Our 2 year old still has a sleep over lunch time for about an hour but our 3 year old doesn't have a day sleep anymore. I also tried cutting this out for our 2 year old thinking then she may also sleep longer at night but it doesn't make any difference except she is cranky through the day. <br />I think if it was just our 3 year old doing this over time we could get him to stay in bed longer eventually as he is old enough to understand. It's only cause he hears her that he gets up again. <br />If anyone has any advice or ideas we would love to hear them. With baby number 3 on the way I would hope we can get this sorted before it arrives!!!</p> </div> <div class="article-right fR"> <div class="box w025 stageRelated" style="width: 207px!important"> <h2 class="title">Most relevant to month:</h2> <ul class="months"> <li><img id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucViewStory_imgMonth" src="/Templates/Styles/GBWImages/libero/calendar-toddler-months-33.png" style="border-width:0px;" /></li> </ul> <div class="tags"> <h4>Tags</h4> <ul class="tags"> <li><a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Search/?quicksearchquery=old'>old,</a> </li><li><a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Search/?quicksearchquery=early'>early,</a> </li><li><a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Search/?quicksearchquery=day'>day,</a> </li><li><a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Search/?quicksearchquery=bed'>bed,</a> </li><li><a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Search/?quicksearchquery=may'>may,</a> </li><li><a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Search/?quicksearchquery=sleep'>sleep,</a> </li><li><a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Search/?quicksearchquery=time'>time,</a> </li><li><a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Search/?quicksearchquery=baby'>baby,</a> </li><li><a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Search/?quicksearchquery=4am'>4am,</a> </li><li><a href='http://www.treasures.co.nz/Search/?quicksearchquery=tried'>tried</a></li> </ul> </div> <br class="cB" /> <div class="side"> <p class="by">Written by</p> <div id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucViewStory_ucAvatar_pnlContainer" class="profile type-large"> <div id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucViewStory_ucAvatar_pnlContent" class="details stage-pregnant kids-2 location-new_zealand offline "> <a class="avatar"> <img id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucViewStory_ucAvatar_imgAvatar" src="/Global/02_New%20Zeeland/Images/avatar_woman.png" style="border-width:0px;" /> </a> <a id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucViewStory_ucAvatar_hlUserName" class="username" onclick="changeTopLocation('http://www.treasures.co.nz/Community/People/Public-Profile/?userId=18758&noiframe=1');return false;">Carmen</a> <span class="extra"></span> <ul> <li class="status">offline</li> <li>1 stories</li> <li>0 recommendation</li> </ul> <em> </em> <dl> <dt class="stage">Stage:</dt> <dd>Pregnant</dd> <dt class="kids">Kids:</dt> <dd> George Begg, 5 years<br />Libby Begg, 3 years, 8 months </dd> <dt class="location">Location:</dt> <dd>Balclutha</dd> </dl> <span class="summary"><span>Pregnant, <br />from</span> Balclutha</span> <p><a id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucViewStory_ucAvatar_hlViewProfile" class="more" onclick="changeTopLocation('http://www.treasures.co.nz/Community/People/Public-Profile/?userId=18758&noiframe=1');return false;">View profile</a></p> <div class="gfx-b"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cB"></div> <div class="recommend"> <p>This story has 0 recommendations</p> <p class="nM"></p> </div> </div> <div class="box w025 stageRelated" style="width: 207px!important"> <ul class="scrapbook"> <li> <a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250" rel="nofollow" onmouseover="return addthis_open(this, '', '[URL]', '[TITLE]')" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()" class="action add"><span>Share</span></a> </li> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><li><a id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucViewStory_hlPrint" class="more" href="http://www.treasures.co.nz/Explore-your-stage/Print-article/?contentId=238509&iframe=0" target="_blank">Print story</a> </li></ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> TimelineFlash.onInit = function() { } </script><script type="text/javascript"> function printIt() { var content = document.getElementById("content"); var h1 = document.getElementById("printtitle"); var contentHtml = content.innerHTML; var windowContent = "<html><head><head>"; windowContent += "<link rel='stylesheet' href='/Templates/Styles/css/general-treasures.css' type='text/css' media='all' />"; windowContent += "<link rel='stylesheet' href='/Templates/Styles/css/general.css' type='text/css' media='all' />"; windowContent += "</head><body>" + contentHtml + "</body><html>"; var my_window = window.open("", "mywindow","status=1,width=710,height=600,toolbar=no,location=no,scrollbars=yes"); //my_window.document.write("<h1 style='margin-left: 10px; font-weight: normal'>" + h1.innerHTML + "</h1>"); my_window.document.write(windowContent); my_window.document.close(); my_window.print(); } </script><div class="gfx-b"></div> </div> <div class="box w075"> <div class="paging pB"> <div class="fL"> <h2>Comments on this story</h2> </div> <div class="fR"> <p class="nM"> <label>Sort by:</label> <select name="ctl00$FullContent$Main$PageContent$ddlSortComments" id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ddlSortComments"> <option selected="selected" value="Highest rated">Highest rated</option> <option value="Oldest first">Oldest first</option> <option value="Newest first">Newest first</option> </select> </p> </div> </div> <div id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_up"> <ul class="comments"> <li> <div class="box"> <div class="content"> <p class="date">Sunday, 31 July 2011 6:01 a.m.</p> <div class="action"> <div id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucCommentRating_UpdatePanel1"> <div class="ratingBox"> <div class="ratingText"></div> <div style="float:right"> <div id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucCommentRating_ratEntry" class="ratingContainer"> <input type="hidden" name="ctl00$FullContent$Main$PageContent$ucComments$lvComments$ctrl0$ucCommentRating$ratEntry_RatingExtender_ClientState" id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucCommentRating_ratEntry_RatingExtender_ClientState" value="0" /><a href="javascript:void(0)" id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucCommentRating_ratEntry_A" title="0" style="text-decoration:none"><span id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucCommentRating_ratEntry_Star_1" class="ratingStar emptyRatingStar" style="float:left;"> </span><span id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucCommentRating_ratEntry_Star_2" class="ratingStar emptyRatingStar" style="float:left;"> </span><span id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucCommentRating_ratEntry_Star_3" class="ratingStar emptyRatingStar" style="float:left;"> </span><span id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucCommentRating_ratEntry_Star_4" class="ratingStar emptyRatingStar" style="float:left;"> </span><span id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucCommentRating_ratEntry_Star_5" class="ratingStar emptyRatingStar" style="float:left;"> </span></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="nM"> I had a couple of early birds too. It's not much fun is it. <br />Despite it seeming opposite to what you'd expect you're more likely to find putting them to bed earlier will work. Also keep up the afternoon nap as long as poss, if the 3 yr old won't go to sleep try to make sure he gets some quiet time (pref if his room so you get a break too lol) at the same time as his sister sleeps. The more they sleep the more they sleep IYKWIM. <br /> <br />A visual trigger might help, teach them the numbers that have to be showing on the clock before they're allowed out of bed. If they don't recognise numbers yet try a clock with opening eyes or a light or music coming on with a timer. <br /> <br />The three year old might respond to a reward chart for staying in his bedroom until 6 but the 2 yr old is probably too young for it. <br /> <br />Good luck, I managed to retrain one of my early birds but the other defeated me. The good news is they soon get to the age where you don't really care anymore as they just look after themselves lol. </p> <p class="fR"> </p> </div> <div class="side"> <div id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucAvatar_pnlContainer" class="profile type-medium"> <div id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucAvatar_pnlContent" class="details stage-none kids-3 location-new_zealand offline function-ambassador stage-none"> <a class="avatar"> <img id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucAvatar_imgAvatar" src="/EPiServerCommunity/Modules/ImageGallery/Thumbnails/51/77651/47018_282983.jpg" style="border-width:0px;" /> </a> <a id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucAvatar_hlUserName" class="username" onclick="changeTopLocation('http://www.treasures.co.nz/Community/People/Public-Profile/?userId=13116&noiframe=1');return false;">ekubo</a> <span class="extra"></span> <ul> <li class="status">offline</li> <li>1 stories</li> <li>32 recommendations</li> </ul> <em>three, from Christchurch</em> <dl> <dt class="stage">Stage:</dt> <dd>None</dd> <dt class="kids">Kids:</dt> <dd> 8 years<br />11 years<br />4 years, 11 months </dd> <dt class="location">Location:</dt> <dd>Christchurch</dd> <dt class="function">Function:</dt> <dd>Treasures ambassador</dd> </dl> <span class="summary"><span>None, <br />from</span> Christchurch</span> <p><a id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_ucComments_lvComments_ctrl0_ucAvatar_hlViewProfile" class="more" onclick="changeTopLocation('http://www.treasures.co.nz/Community/People/Public-Profile/?userId=13116&noiframe=1');return false;">View profile</a></p> <div class="gfx-b"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> <div class="fR"> </div> </div> <p><a id="ctl00_FullContent_Main_PageContent_btnLoginToComment" class="action" href="javascript:WebForm_DoPostBackWithOptions(new WebForm_PostBackOptions("ctl00$FullContent$Main$PageContent$btnLoginToComment", "", true, "", "", false, true))"><span>Login to add a comment</span></a></p> <div class="gfx-b"></div> </div> </div> <!--// CONTENT --> <!-- SIDE //--> <div id="side"> </div> <!--// SIDE --> </div> <!--// MAIN -->
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